CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi

By Njoroge David

The Council of Governors has advised all county governments to disregard a public notice issued by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) requiring registration of ambulances and emergency medical personnel by mid-September.

In a letter dated 9th September 2025, CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said the directive undermines county autonomy and violates prior agreements on intergovernmental coordination.

The notice, published on 8th September, mandates registration of paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and ambulance operators to support the rollout of emergency services under the Social Health Authority’s Emergency, Critical Care and Chronic Illness Fund (ECCIF).

Governors argue that ambulance services fall squarely under county jurisdiction, as outlined in Article 186 and Part 2 of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.

They also criticised the Ministry of Health and its agencies for bypassing county input, despite earlier resolutions to collaborate on emergency care frameworks.

The advisory follows two high-level meetings in early September—one at CoG offices and another in Mombasa—where county officials expressed concern over duplication of roles and potential inefficiencies.

The CoG maintains that the KMPDC Act does not confer regulatory authority over county functions and warns that non-compliance penalties outlined in the notice are legally unenforceable.